Editorial: Why Brown's endorsement of Koop in House race is such a big deal

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David Woo/Staff Photographer

The Richardson Chamber of Commerce and the North Dallas Chamber of Commerce hosted a Republican candidate forum for Texas House District 102. Republican candidates were (from left) Adryana Boyne, Samuel Brown, state Rep. Stefani Carter and Linda Koop.

Published: 23 March 2014 10:15 PM

Updated: 24 March 2014 11:12 AM

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Linda Koop

A pair of political signs in Texas House District 102 said it all. Planted in the same yard on Coit Road, between North Dallas and Richardson, a Sam Brown sign stood with a Linda Koop sign.

That reflected the news that Brown has asked his supporters to back former opponent Koop in the effort to replace two-term incumbent Stefani Carter.

Koop was the top vote-getter out of four candidates in the March 4 Republican primary and will face second-place Carter in a May 27 runoff. Brown is a retired Army officer and Afghanistan war veteran who came in a respectable third. He could never fit his reasons for supporting Koop on any yard sign, but they’re worth reviewing for those GOP voters who will return to the polls to decide this contest.

In a lengthy Facebook announcement last week, Brown keyed on Koop’s capacity to provide the district “servant leadership” and to be “humble and candid.” Brown said that contrasted with his view of Carter.

This newspaper supported Koop in the primary election and reiterates now that the district deserves a conservative straight-shooter who can do the public’s business in Austin with a transparent agenda.

Koop has spent years in the public arena, including three terms on the Dallas City Council and service on the North Central Texas Council of Governments and the Regional Transportation Council, which she chaired.

Koop, 63, has an uncommonly long list of officeholders in her corner, including two suburban mayors from the district, along with a county commissioner and at least 10 council members from Dallas and the suburbs. Elected leaders typically don’t side openly in a party contest, especially against an incumbent. Koop’s support is a sign that people who know something about leadership think the 35-year-old Carter comes up short there.

Since her first race four years ago, Carter has faced credibility questions, starting with resume-padding accusations. This year brought more, after she cited a recent “life-changing” traffic accident but refused to divulge details. When those details came out, they didn’t jibe with her story.

To his credit, Brown didn’t mention that episode or whether he thinks it was a ploy to get the support of voters who might have been sympathetic to Brown because of his severe war injuries.

Brown did take on Facebook critics who questioned his statement that Carter told him she was aiming for two more terms to qualify for a lawmaker’s pension. Carter, he said in a follow-up post, told him that at lunch recently: “If she denies it,” Brown wrote, “then you can decide who is more honorable.”

That should be a pretty clear choice for Brown supporters.

‘THE DISTINCTION IS CLEAR’

From Brown’s Facebook announcement backing Koop

“I have had people attempt to coerce, manipulate, guilt, and warn me with veiled threats about taking a stand based on conviction rather than doing what is “politically most advantageous” for me. But, I will not retreat from a cornerstone of my campaign. I will continue to do and support the things and people I believe are best for our community and state.

“That is why I am announcing my complete support and endorsement for Linda Koop. … I had a unique opportunity to learn a great deal about the district, the issues, and the candidates in this race over the course of the past eight months. And, I can assure you that Linda Koop has the best interests of our district and state in mind. ...

“I know this firsthand after spending one-on-one time with Linda Koop and Stefani Carter. ... The distinction is clear, Linda is humble and candid about the challenges ahead .... contrasted by Stefani, whose chief motivation for continuing her campaign is to reach the eight-year mark in the House and earn her state pension. Don’t expect her to stay longer than that before she runs for another office that pays better or uses her political capital to land a good job in the private sector. …”

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